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Sweden has played a role in the History of Europe. It was one of the Great Powers of Europe up until the Great Northern War. In our time line The Swedish and Russian Empires clashed during that conflict and a young Russian ruler managed to come out on top. Peter was able to build his city on the Baltic and slowly over the centuries Russian power emerged. Sweden's influence in Russia receded. With the Napoleonic Wars the Swedes lost their hold on Finland and were rewarded with Norway as compensation when Denmark happen to be on the losing side with France during the war.
But suppose that things were not so victorious for Peter during the Great Northern War . Instead the Swedish side was able to create a stalemate.
Sweden retained its Empire in the North.
The 19th Century saw additional clashes but there was never enough of a crushing defeat by won side against the other.
As alliances began to take shape during the latter part of the 19th Century it became clear that two alliance systems were forming and a question was emerging as to which side would Sweden join. Russia was Hostile to it and Germany friendly but then Sweden had had good relations with Great Britain during the 19th Century.
Thus Sweden as the most industrial of the Scandinavian Nations was left in a state of attempting to walk the find line.
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